The Wild creamed the Flames here in Calgary tonight for a second consecutive win at the Saddledome, not bad for a team that won three times here in history before this season.
The Flames just had no pushback tonight. Lethargic, sloppy plays and when it got a chance, the Wild either blocked the shot, Nik Backstrom made the save or the Flames splintered their sticks.
Todd Richards wasn't as impressed with the game as I was, but it's a big win coming out of a break in which the team didn't play together for 17 days. The beginning of the second period is likely what most bothered Richards. The Wild just couldn't generate an attack, but even though it spent a lot of the 10 minutes in its zone, but of Calgary's shots were from the perimeter.
The Wild has won two straight games in Calgary for the first time in team history. Two of the Wild's all-time five wins here (5-18-4) have come via shutout. Minnesota has won four straight overall against Calgary for the first time in team history, outscoring the Flames 14-2.
It was a good game plan. Very short shifts. Mostly rolled four lines. Check out the ice times. Owen Nolan played 17:40 to lead all forwards. I mean, Mikko Koivu played 15:09. A lot of the reason for that is Calgary took no penalties (third time in history by a Wild opponent), so there were no power plays. Also, for all the talk about losing Eric Belanger's faceoffs, the Wild won 37 of 57.
Backstrom's 29-save shutout was his 19th of his career and second of the season.
Kyle Brodziak scored a goal and has four points in his last two games.
Andrew Brunette has a goal in three straight games. Mikko Koivu snapped a 10-game goal drought but has 13 points in his last 11 games and a four-game assist streak.
